Aurélie Bidermann on Her Balmain Bags

Anyone still jet-lagged from their Paris Fashion Week flight got jolted awake this afternoon, thanks to Balmain. The oh-so-cool French label blasted Led Zeppelin loudly during the show causing guests like Cher and Fergie to literally jump in their seats, while the golden chandeliers inside the venue—the historic landmark Hotel de Ville—rattled softly. Thankfully, the only crystals that appeared on the runway came from Swarovski—not from the ceiling—as Karlie Kloss and Catherine McNeil modeled Olivier Rousteing's new looks. (Most were metallic, a few were bright purple.)

But although the clothes and the music were on full blast, there were pieces of subtle luxury thanks to Aurélie Bidermann.

The French accessories designer is most famous for her jewelry, including diamond-studded friendship bracelets, but she also created Balmain's first-ever line of handbags.

"I am friendly with Olivier," explained Bidermann from the front row, where she perched with The Webster boutique's Laure Dubreuil and the actress Tallulah Harlech. "He came to me and said, 'What would a Balmain bag look like to you?' And to me, it's very simple. They are not too big, so you can take them out in the evening, and they have textured leather and a strong, simple shape, a bit like a box. They look perfect with the clothes but you can also carry them with something casual. What I like about them, what I think is exciting, is that they are the anti It bag."

"I would have carried one with me to the show," she laughed. "But I think all my new ones are backstage with the models!"